Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed on Austin’s I-35 Corridor?
Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed on Austin’s I-35 Corridor?
Interstate 35 cuts through the center of Austin like a concrete wall, and for pedestrians trying to cross it, the results are often fatal. More people are killed on I-35 and its service roads than on any other corridor in the city, and the numbers have not improved despite years of safety campaigns and billions of dollars in construction. If you or someone in your family has been struck by a vehicle on or near I-35, the pedestrian accident attorneys at Shaw Cowart can help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation your family needs.
State-controlled roads like I-35, MoPac, and US 183 account for 65 to 75 percent of all traffic fatalities in Austin, according to the Vision Zero 10-year report. That is a staggering number. The City of Austin can redesign local streets, add crosswalks, and install pedestrian signals, but the deadliest roads in the city are controlled by TxDOT — and TxDOT’s design standards have historically prioritized moving vehicles at high speeds over protecting people on foot. The personal injury lawyers at Shaw Cowart have represented families across Austin who lost loved ones on these roads, and they know how to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Austin recorded 99 traffic fatalities in 2025, and pedestrian deaths made up a disproportionate share. In the first six weeks of 2026, the city has already seen 11 fatal crashes — double the rate of the same period last year. Multiple pedestrian fatalities have occurred directly on I-35 and its service roads, and pedestrian accident lawyers in Travis County continue to see these cases with alarming frequency.
The I-35 Death Toll: Recent Crashes That Tell the Story
The 18-Vehicle Pileup That Killed Five
On March 13, 2025, a chain-reaction crash involving at least 17 vehicles, several semi-trucks, and a fuel tanker struck the northbound lanes of I-35 in north Austin late at night. Five people were killed and eleven were injured. The driver, a 37-year-old man, was arrested and charged. The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation, and multiple lawsuits were filed in the aftermath. The crash shut down I-35 for hours and exposed the catastrophic risks of high-speed traffic sharing lanes with slower vehicles and vulnerable road users.
Hit-and-Run at 6th Street and I-35 Service Road
On January 31, 2026, 38-year-old Aaron William Johnson was struck and killed at the intersection of 6th Street and the I-35 service road at 2:48 a.m. The driver fled the scene. This stretch of road is heavily trafficked by pedestrians leaving the 6th Street entertainment district, and the transition from the service road to the highway creates confusion and high speeds that are deadly for anyone on foot, according to KXAN.
Pedestrian Killed on South I-35
On February 2, 2026, a pedestrian was killed on the southbound lanes of I-35 in the 10400 block, making it Austin’s tenth fatal crash of the year. On the same date in 2025, the city had recorded only five fatal crashes. The doubling of the fatality rate in 2026 has raised alarms among safety advocates and law enforcement, according to APD.
MoPac Pedestrian Death
On March 5, 2025, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on MoPac, forcing Austin-Travis County EMS to divert traffic while emergency crews responded. MoPac, like I-35, is a state-controlled highway where vehicle speeds regularly exceed posted limits, and there are few safe crossing points for pedestrians.
Why I-35 Is So Deadly for People on Foot
The reasons I-35 kills so many pedestrians are not mysterious. They are the predictable result of a road designed exclusively for vehicles moving at highway speed through the center of a growing city. First, the service roads along I-35 carry fast-moving traffic that feeds directly onto and off of the highway. Drivers accelerating to merge or decelerating after exiting are focused on traffic — not on pedestrians at crosswalks. Second, the limited number of safe crossing points forces pedestrians to walk long distances out of their way or attempt dangerous crossings at unprotected locations. Third, the corridor is home to a large population of people experiencing homelessness. Austin data indicates that between 40 and 60 percent of pedestrian fatalities are suspected to involve people experiencing homelessness, who face heightened exposure to high-speed roadways because they live, sleep, and travel near them every day.
What Has Been Done — and Why It Is Not Enough
The City of Austin installed temporary pedestrian barriers on several sections of I-35, and since installation, pedestrian fatalities on those sections have decreased. Grade-separated crossings are now planned as part of the Capital Express project, which will eventually rebuild I-35 through central Austin. Vision Zero has also completed over 12 miles of street lighting improvements and installed leading pedestrian intervals at more than 750 intersections citywide.
But the core problem remains: TxDOT controls the design and operation of I-35, and state design standards prioritize moving the maximum number of vehicles at the highest possible speed. Texas law also bans automated speed enforcement cameras, which other states use to slow drivers in pedestrian-heavy areas. Until the fundamental design of I-35 changes, pedestrians will continue to die on it.
Your Legal Rights After a Pedestrian Crash on I-35
If you or a loved one has been struck by a vehicle on I-35 or its service roads, you may have a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the driver. Texas law requires all drivers to exercise due care to avoid striking a pedestrian, regardless of where the pedestrian is walking. Even if the pedestrian was not in a marked crosswalk, the driver may still bear the majority of fault — particularly if they were speeding, distracted, impaired, or failed to yield.
Evidence in I-35 pedestrian crash cases must be preserved quickly. TxDOT traffic cameras, nearby business surveillance footage, and vehicle black box data can all be critical, but they disappear fast. The pedestrian accident lawyers at Shaw Cowart can send a spoliation letter to preserve this evidence and begin building your case immediately. If you have a legal question — call us at 512-842-7085.